March 14, 2013

Review: Martinson House Blend Real Cups

We forge ahead in our Martinson Real Cup review series today with a flavor that most coffee companies refer to as their staple flavor, so it’ll be interesting to see how this one plays out. Today we take a look at the Martinson House Blend Real Cups.

Brewing these Real Cups resulted in mild aromas of smoke with a faint earthiness touched by hints of chocolate and the very faintest tinges of molasses underneath. Flavor was a mix of dark chocolate with smoky notes throughout followed by hints of molasses and a bit of an oily taste near the end. Acidity was definitely present as we got some sour notes near the middle of each sip and while it was leaning on the stronger side, it wasn’t off the charts like some of the other flavors we’ve tried in the line-up so far. It wasn’t enough to wash-out the flavors but it could have been slightly toned-down a bit for our liking.

Body was medium to dark brown in color with shades of orange & red when held in front of a light source. Mouth feel seemed smooth overall with only a slight oily texture revealing itself in the background while having a dry finish with more notes of smoke & oil in the aftertaste. Other than that, this is your average standard house blend coffee which has been done time and time again by various brands across the market. It’s better than some, but still not the best we’ve had to date.

Aroma – 7 – Mild notes of smoke with a faint earthiness touched by hints of chocolate and faint tinges of molasses.

Acidity – 7 – Some sour notes near the middle of each sip revealed an acidity which was leaning on the stronger side of things but didn’t wash-out any flavors. Could still have been slightly toned-down a bit.

Body – 8 – Medium to dark brown with notes of orange & red when held to a light source.

Flavor – 7 – Mix of dark chocolate with smoky notes throughout followed-up by hints of molasses with a slight oily taste near the end.

Mouth Feel – 9 – Smooth overall with a slight oily texture in the background. Dry finish with more notes of smoke & oil in the aftertaste.

Coffee Drinker – Suited best for casual coffee drinkers who prefer medium, smoky coffees with chocolate notes. Dark roast fans won’t care much for this and light roast fans may find this stronger than what they’re accustomed to.

Overall Rating: 88 – Good

While there isn’t really much here that sets this coffee apart from most other house blends we’ve had in the past, in its defense this is still a decent offering considering that it’s not an officially licensed Keurig product. While the acidity can make things seem a bit sour at times, the smoky notes paired with the chocolate flavors strike a fair balance overall. For anyone who still has any doubts, we’d recommend trying a sample before committing to a full box.

Jim: I purchased a opus coffee maker and liked the sample read moreStephanie: I would like to know why grocery stores do not read moreNancy: I want to buy this lid read moreXelleld: I don't think they sell it nationwide. It only seems read moreBatman: I agree! The Junior Mints K cup is the best read more